Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

Yes, they can take down a turkey. They are crazy-insane, viscious creatures that will kill everything in sight. If you found one, there's probably more.
Do you have some sort of water near you? Stream, river, pond? They love water. Sis has a river running in the back of her property.

 

[Cindlady]

OH WOW Frizzler! That sucks! I agree with CD weasels will kill without eating much, if any of what they kill. They do like the eggs and if there were any in the area they would break them and eat the contents. Coyotes, foxes and wolves would run off with they could and come back for more later. Coons like to behead chickens and eat eggs. A hawk would just grab and go. Opossums would also go for the eggs but wouldn't kill a chicken unless it was cornered.

 

[Frizzler]

There's a pond 50 yards away and a river behind our neighbor's house across the road. Guess we'll be doing some trapping or something. I'm thinking of setting out a trap with one of the dead birds in it and relocate the security camera for our house and aim it at the trap. You've been a great help! It's truly appreciated.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Sorry I can't do more for you.

My sis didn't have any luck trapping, but I have seen pics of weasels in traps, so it must be possible. I don't know if they will go for something already dead? I think they suck the blood out of their prey? That is why you rarely see many marks.
Good luck to you. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way.

 

[Celtic Chick]

With all that water, I'm guessing you have coons too. They like water too. That is one thing that might have mutilated your bird(s) after the fact.
Skunks tend to nest near water, but I don't have any problems with them bothering my birds. I've actually had one in my coop one night with my less-than-bright banty hen standing not far from it. I have a light on in there, so they had to see each other, although skunks eyesight isn't too good.
I'm guessing the weasels came from the river. They, like a lot of animals, follow rivers.

 

[Cindlady]

Skunks would rather go for unguarded eggs rather than go for a chicken too.

This week really sucked for losses! Glad it's almost over! Now I'm being paranoid about something getting into my coop! Checked it almost every hour!

Well, the babies that hatched Easter week are getting daring! My favorite one learned it has wings and what they can do! Caught her on top of the 48" chicken wire! She was scared and confused as to how to get down, but d@mn if she didn't fly up there 4 more times! It was already sunset when I caught her there so I just kinda' crammed the top layer of chicken wire on top. Hope no one gets caught up in it. One of the cockerels decided to try it too! Guess I clip wings this week.

Well, Looks like my bantam went broody again. I'm going to call a guy I found on CL about 6-8 fertile eggs

. None of you seem to be close enough to just run over and pick some up

Yep, chicken math.... going to have to make more coop room! The tillers might just have to spend the winter outside with tarps over them!

I still need more fencing or I'm never going to get my garden in! No sense in planting if the chickens can get in and eat it all!

I'm patching up and fixing up the camper. The "kids" didn't stock it very well either so I'm going to get it all set up for them. Even if I spend $1OO (I hope not) it will still be allot cheaper than renting one for the weekend! Then it will be ready to go if they want to use it. I hope the air conditioner works!

I haven't tried it yet. Maybe today I'll give it a go.

DrH... I've had sunstroke and frost bite so I feel for you! Take it easy and try to keep cool!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Sorry to hear this

, hope that you are able to trap the weasels.

 

[Dr HaHa]

Good Morning Everybody! Except for Frizzler, Oh Friz I am so sorry for your losses! That is devastating! I know that first hand. Did the birds have mainly head/neck wounds? If so then a weasel is the most likely culprit. Agree that something else came in to feed on them after the fact.

Cind hope you get that camper up and running. If the air works you might not be coming out of it till fall.

Dooner love your coop, yard, and landscaping! Your going to have some very spoiled birds! But who doesn't?

bl4

Thanks for helpful hints! Yup know about the salt needed for water retention. I shouldn't have stayed so long out there and drank more water. I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for getting the new saw. It is a very nice saw! Only one complaint. The top handle isn't over the center of gravity but it's light enough that it's not a real problem. I'm sure I'll get used to it. It really does cut circles around that stupid Poulan. Feeling much better today, slept till 6 shut the tube off at 9:30. Gotta get a huge pork roast in the slow cooker then see how I feel. It's either mow lawn and weed the gardens or back out to finish up the trees. There isn't that much left back there and it's nice and cool with a breeze. Looks like a fresh garden salad will be going with the roast tonight!

We'll see. So much more I wanted to comment on but it's gone.

Thanks again for all the well wishes!

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[MustLoveHens]

Frizzler-I'm so sorry that you had that happened to your birds.

While I agree that it could have been a weasel, the first thing I suspect is a dog. That is the most common chicken predator. The fact that chunks were missing from some carcasses is typical for a dog attack. A feral dog would most likely abscond with a carcass but a neighborhood dog passing through could do some serious damage. "Pet" dogs are very bad about killing for fun. Since the attacks happened during the day, that narrows down the list of predators. Hawks usually do a snatch and grab method leaving feathers behind but not much else and I would think that after 1(or 2 birds at the most), the hawk would be done hunting unless he is really hungry. The hawks might have been scavenging so the dogs might have done the deed and the hawks tore the carcasses up.

Carol- I'm sorry I misspoke-bad me!!! You are completely correct OEGB are in deed specifically the Bantams while I meant the Large Fowl Old English Game (Fowl). Good catch and thank you! I need to remember to apply the correct terms!!

You'd think I'd remember that since I used to raise Large Fowl Old English Game Fowl and American Game Fowl! It's a very bad habit I have of calling them Game Birds. Years ago when I first started in the chicken show world, I wanted to raise and show Game Fowl. I had an old mentor refer to them as Game Birds and that kinda stuck in my head!!

*Gets out mental post it note and sticks to gray matter*

Well, today is weed the garden day, clean the chicken habitat day, and clean the rabbit's habitat day. I'm sure there is more I'll find to do....there always is!

 

[Frizzler]

Fortunately for my neighbor, it wasn't dogs. We don't have ferals around here and our yard is completely fenced in, thanks to the neighbor dog's attack years ago. The feathers that I found in a chunk was only from one the birds. I'm thinking that the critter grabbed it and she freaked and tried to get away resulting in ripped out feathers. Plus the 2 that were eaten were pecked clean, not ripped to shreds. Then over Christmas we came to 2 Production hens eaten by hawks. The one turkey mostly looked like the Production did. Sorry if it sounds too graphic, just still really bummin'. Thanks everyone for the condolences and advice/input. I seriously can't wait to meet all of you awesome people.

On a slightly bright note, we'll probably heading to the P.K. Auction in Amherst today, so hopefully I can talk to auctioneer Paul about maybe getting a new pair of Snowy Mallards. I bought the ones that were killed from him this spring and loved them dearly. Even planned on breeding them next spring. Don't know how I'll replace my bluish grey Ameraucana, but I'll be doing some looking if anyone knows anyone. I probably shouldn't replace anyone because I have exactly as many eggs in the 'bator as ones that were killed, but I think I'm gonna miss my Princess pretty bad.

Oh yeah, and another bright note. We're looking at buying some land and my husband found 22+ acres nearby. We just need to get a price. That would be so awesome! We've wanted land for quite a few years now and to find it so close to us and his parents is way cool! Hopefully their not asking too much.

Sounds like wonderful weather today. Get out and enjoy it! Have a great day everyone!

ETA: Dooner that coop looks great and the landscaping is beautiful. How pretty!